UAIFR
At Balance Time
Everyone, before the end of each year, stops for a while to review the successes
and the failures from the stage that has been just finished and to sketch a few
future plans. This habit has been also taken over by other institutions.
Therefore, at the headquarter of Brasov Rail Region, on December 23, 2002 has
been unfolded, under the presidency of Mr. Ion Mihaila, eng., director of
Bucharest Rail Region, the Annual General Assembly of the Union of the Artistic
and Intellectual Associations of the Railway Employees from Romania (UAIFR).
At this meeting have also participated, next to the members of management
committee, and the presidents and the representative of the member associations,
as well as other guests. Among them we remind here that the university professor
Mr. Marian Constantin, dr., ec., and Mr. Florin Dobrescu, the president of the
National Trade Union Federation Iron Way and, in the same time, the president of
the Esperanto Association in Romania, Mr. Ion Lungu, the president of the
Independent Free Trade Union from the Locomotive Depot in Buzau, and other
outstanding personalities.
In order to refresh the memory of our readers of the Railway Journal we remind
that UAIFR reunites seven associations (Esperanto, painting-sculpture,
photography- film, radio-amateurism, philately, bridge and tourism) having as
members the railway employees, as well as other persons who are found of the
railway world and have common hobbies. This union makes part of the
International Federation of the Artistic and Intellectual Companies of the
Railway Employees (FISAIC), created in France, at Obernai (Alsacia), in year
1952, which is summing up today the associations from 25 countries, with over
80,000 due members.
One of the main points included on the agenda of the debates has been the Annual
Report of the Managing Committee UAIFR, presented by Mr. Ion Ciotarca, the
director of Galati Rail Region. The establishment of the activity program for
2003 followed this, by the report regarding the representation UAIFR of the 50th
anniversary of FISAIC and by the organizational measures.
The representatives of the seven associations that are in UAIFR have taken the
floor, substantially completing the annual report. On this occasion, Mr. Ion
Mihaila has brought into discussion the inconvenience caused especially by the
communication problems between the associations, as well as between this and the
managing committee of UAIFR. That's why there has been underlined the necessity
of editing an informative bulletin of the union, where there is fully emphasized
the activity of all the component associations.
There has been noticed especially the substantial participation, with reports
and specialists, on the themes announced by the Association of the Railway
Esperanto Speakers from Romania (AFER), at the international congresses
organized by the similar associations from the other countries, as there was the
ones from year 2000 from Budapest (Hungary), from 2001 in Tabov (Czech Republic)
and from 2002 in Plovdiv (Bulgaria), or at the annual assembly of the Spanish
railway Esperanto speakers, from Alicante, still in 2002.
A more original action and a very well received by the participants has been a
skiing week for the railway Esperanto speakers, which first edition has been
organized by the Romanian, on winter 2001/2002, at Predeal, for the winter
2002/2003 being scheduled a new similar action, in Czech mountains.
There were not less important or appreciative the actions achieved by the
railway employees who have as hobby the tourism (being organized trips to
Valencia, in Spain, and in the Romanian Maramures) and neither the five diplomas
obtained by the Romanian railway painters at the competition in Wiesbaden
(Germany) in the year that was about to be closed. Still in 2002 there should be
noticed the successful participations of the Romanian railway philatelists at
several international manifestations.
There have been also reminded older events, very important for UAIFR, as well as
the international professional symposium and the meeting of the FISAIC presidium
from Lillehammer (Norway), developed in year 2001.
A special interest has aroused the information presented by Mr. Mihai Stefan,
eng., who has leaded the Romanian delegation at the anniversary meeting of
FISAIC from Obernai (France) in order to point out the 50 years since the
foundation.
The Romanian participation to this manifestation has been appreciated, and the
management of FISAIC - through the agency of Mr. Khakob Tschanz - has required
to the Romanian delegates to use the language community in order to attract
railway works from Moldova Republic in the International Federation of the
Intellectual and Artistic Companies of the Railway Employees.
As it was natural to be, there have been revealed certain shortcomings recorded
in the activity of certain companies that are part of UAIFR, as the association
of bridge and the radio-amateurs association.
Unfortunately, the photography - film association was not present, as there was
established at the meeting in Slanic Moldova, at the exhibition scheduled at
Koge (Denmark), and did not take advantage of the support granted by the
Romanian Embassy from this country.
In order to improve the future activity of the participants there has been
adopted a wide program of measures, being encouraged the decision factors from
CFR administration, as well as certain leaders of the trade unions from the
branch.
ec. Emil Craciun
eng. Dan Dragos Aldea